cc.iceberg-第36节

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llness。
　
　Pitt　swept　into　the　room　with　all　the　flourish　of　a　matinee　idol　whose　grandiose　entrances　were　his　stockin…trade。　At　the　head　of　the　stairway　he　stopped　and　took　the　handle　of　a　lorgnette；　hanging　around　his　neck　by　a　small　gold　chain；　and　held　the　tiny　single　lens　up　to　his　right　eye　and　surveyed　the　startled　audience　who　unabashedly　stared　back　at　him。
　
　No　one　could　reOly　blame　them；　even　an　authority　on　etiquette。　Pitts　outfit　looked　like　a　cross　between　a　Louis　XI　court　costume　and　God　knew　what。　The　red　jacket　sported　ruffles　on　the　collar　and　sleeves　while　a　pair　of　brocaded　yellow　breeches　tapered　and　disappeared　into　the　red　suede　boots。　Around　his　waist　he　wore　a　brown　sHk　sash；　whose　tasseled　end　hung　to　within　inches　of　his　knees。　If　Pitt　had　been　searching　for　an　eye…shattering　effect；　he　achieved　his　purpose　with　honors。　After　building　the　scene　to　its　peak；　he　daintily　walked　down　the　stairway　and　approached　Kirsti　and　Rondheim。
　〃Good　evening；　Miss　Fyrie　。　。　。　Mr。　Rondheim。　How　good　of　you　to　invite　me。　Poetry　readings　are　absolutely　my　favorite　soirees。　I　wouldn't　miss　one　for　all　the　lace　in　China。〃
　
　She　gazed　at　Pitt；　fascinated；　her　lips　parted。　She　said　huskily：　〃Oskar　and　I　are　happy　you　could　e。〃
　〃Yes；　it's　good　to　see　you　again；　Major…〃　The　words　stuck　in　Rondheim's　throat　as　he　forgot　and　grasped　Pitts　dead…fish　handshake。
　
　Kirsti；　as　if　sensing　an　embarrassing　situation　in　the　making；　quickly　asked；　〃You're　not　wearing　your　uniform　tonight？〃
　
　Pitt　casually　swung　the　lorgnette　around　on　its　chain。　〃Heavens　no。　Uniforms　are　so　drab；　don't　you　think？　I　thought　it　would　be　amusing　if　I　came　in　mufti　this　evening　so　no　one　would　recognize　me。〃　He　laughed　loudly　at　his　own　left…handed　joke；　turning　every　head　within　hearing　distance。
　
　To　Pitts　extreme　pleasure；　Rondheim　visibly　forced　himself　to　smile　courteously。　〃We　had　hoped　Admiral　Sandecker　and　Miss　Royal　might　also　attend。〃
　〃Miss　Royal　wig　be　along　shortly；〃　Pitt　said；　staring　across　the　room　through　his　eyeglass。　〃But　I'm　afraid　the　admiral　isn't　feeling　well。　He　decided　to　retire　early。　Poor　fellow；　I　can't　blame　him　after　what　happened　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Nothing　serious；　I　hope。〃　Rondheim's　voice　betrayed　a　lack　of　concern　for　Sandecker's　health　that　was　as　obvious　as　his　sudden　interest　in　the　reason　behind　the　admiral's　incapacity。
　〃Fortunately；　no。　The　admiral　only　suffered　a　few　cuts　and　bruises。〃
　〃An　accident？〃　Kirsti　asked。
　〃Dreadful；　simply　dreadful；〃　Pitt　said　dramatically。　〃After　you　were　so　kind　to　offer　us　the　loan　of　a　boat；　we　cruised　to　the　south　side　of　the　island　where　I　sketched　the　coastline　while　the　admiral　fished。　About　one　o'clock　we　found　ourselves　enveloped　by　a　nasty　fog。
　
　Just　as　we　were　about　to　return　to　Reykjavik；　a　horrible　explosion　occurred　somewhere　in　the　mist。　The　blast　blew　out　the　windows　in　the　wheelhouse；　causing　a　few　small　cuts　about　the　admiral's　head。〃
　〃An　explosion？〃　Rondheim's　voice　was　low　and　hoarse。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　as　to　the　cause？〃
　〃Afraid　I　haven't；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Couldn't　see　a　thing。
　
　We　investigated；　of　course；　but　with　visibility　no　more　than　twenty　feet；　we　found　nothing。〃
　
　Rondheim's　face　was　expressionless。　〃Very　strange。　You　are　sure　you　saw　nothing；　Major？〃
　〃Absolutely；〃　Pitt　said。　〃You're　probably　thinking　along　the　same　lines　as　Admiral　Sandecker。　A　ship　might　have　hit　an　old　World　War　Two　mine　or　possibly　a　fire　broke　out　and　touched　off　its　fuel　tanks。　We　notified　the　local　coastal　patrol。　They　have　nothing　to　do　now　but　wait　and　see　what　vessel　is　reported　as　missing。
　
　All　in　all　a　terrifying　experience…〃　Pitt　broke　off　as　Tidi　approached。　〃Ah；　Tidi；　here　you　are。〃
　
　Rondheim　turned　on　the　smile　again。　〃Miss　Royal。〃　He　bowed　and　kissed　her　hand。　〃Major　Pitt　has　been　telling　us　of　your　harrowing　experience　this　afternoon。〃
　
　The　bastard；　Pitt　thought。　He　can't　wait　to　pump　answers　out　of　her。　Tidi　looked　cute　and　frisky　in　a　blue　full…length　dress；　her　fawn　hair　falling　straight　and　natural　down　her　back。　Pitt　hung　his　arm　loosely　around　her　waist；　letting　the　hand　slip　down　out　of　sight；　and　pinched　her　soft　bottom。　He　smiled　as　he　looked　down　into　those　wide　brown　eyes…eyes　that　possessed　a　wise；　knowing　quality。
　〃I　missed　most　of　it；　I'm　afraid。〃　She　reached　behind　her　back　and；　clutching　Pitts　hand　discreetly；　twisted　his　little　finger　until　he　gave　in　and　just　as　discreetly　removed　his　arm　from　her　waist。　〃The　blast　knocked　me　against　a　cupboard　in　the　galley。〃　She　touched　a　small　swelling　on　her　forehead；　the　purplish　bruise　neatly　covered　by　makeup。　〃I　was　pretty　much　out　of　it　for　the　next　hour　and　a　half。　Poor　Dirk　here　trembled　and　threw　up　all　the　way　back　to　Reykjavik。〃
　
　Pitt　could　have　kissed　her。　Tidi　had　picked　up　the　situation　without　the　bat　of　an　eye　and　e　through　like　a　trooper。
　〃I　think　it's　time　we　mingled；〃'　he　said；　taking　her　by　the　arm　and　whisking　her　off　toward　the　punch　bowl。
　
　He　passed　her　a　cup　of　punch　and　they　helped　themselves　to　the　hors　d'oeuvres。　Pitt　had　to　fight　from　yawning　as　he　and　Tidi　drifted　from　one　group　to　another。　An　experienced　party…goer；　Pitt　usually　mixed　with　ease；　but　this　time　he　couldn't　seem　to　make　a　beachhead。　There　was　an　odd　atmosphere　about　this　function。　He　couldn't　put　his　finger　on　it；　yet　there　was　something　definitely　out　of　place。　The　usual　subdivisions　were　present…bores；　the　drunks。　snobs　and　the　backslappers。　Everyone　they　joined　who　could　speak　English　was　quite　polite。　No　anti…American　sentiments…a　favorite；　ploy　during　most　conversations　involving　guests　of　other　nations…came　to　the　surface。
　
　To　all　outward　appearances；　it　seemed　like　the　mon；　middle…of…the…road　get…together。　Then　suddenly　he　had　it。　He　bent　down　and　whispered　in　Tidi's　ear。
　〃Do　you　get　the　feeling　we're　persona　non　grata？〃
　
　Tidi　looked　at　him　curiously。　〃No；　everyone　seems　friendly　enough。〃
　〃Sure；　they're　sociable　and　polite；　but　it's　forced。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　certain？〃
　〃I　know　a　warm；　sincere　smile　when　I　see　one。
　
　We're　not　getting　any。　It's　as　though　we're　in　a　cage。
　
　Feed　and　talk　to　the　animals；　but　don't　touch。〃
　〃That's　silly。　You　can't　really　blame　them　for　being　uneasy　when　they　talk　to　someone　who's　dressed　the　way　you　are。〃
　〃That's　the　catch。　The　oddball　is　always；　without　fail；　the　center　of　attraction。　If　I　wasn't　dead　sure；　I'd　say　this　was　a　wake。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　Pitt　with　a　sly　smile。　〃You're　just　nervous　because　you're　way　out　of　your　league。〃
　
　He　smiled　back。　〃Care　for　an　explanation？〃
　〃See　those　two　men　over　there？〃　She　nodded　her　head　sideways　to　her　right。　〃Standing　by　the　piano？〃
　
　Pitt　casually　rolled　a　slow　glance　in　the　direction　Tidi　indicated。　A　small；　rotund；　lively　little　man　with　a　bald　head　was　gesturing　animatedly　as　he　spoke　in　rapid　bursts　into　a　wiry；　thick　white　beard　no　more　than　ten　inches　from　his　nose。　The　beard　belonged　to　a　thin；　distinguished…looking　man　with　silver　hair　that　fell　well　below　his　collar；　giving　him　the　appearance　of　a　Harvard　professor。　Pitt　turned　back　to　Tidi　and　shrugged。
　〃So？〃
　〃You　don't　recognize　them？〃
　〃Should　I？〃
　〃You　don't　read　the　society　pages　of　The　New　York　Times。〃
　〃Playboy　is　the　only　publication　I　bother　with。〃
　
　She　threw　him　a　typical　feminine　disgusted…withthe…male…of…the…species　expression　and　said：　〃It's　a　pretty　sid　state　of　affairs　when　the　son　of　a　United　States　Senator　can't　identify　two　of　the　richest　men　in　the　world。〃
　
　Pitt　was　only　half　listening　to　Tidi。　It　took　a　few　seconds　for　her　words　to　sink　in。　But　then　they　slowly　began　to　register　and　he　turned　his　head　and　brazenly　stared　at　the　two　men　who　were　still　heavily　involved　in　conversation。　Then　he　swung　back　and　gripped　Tidi's　arm　so　hard　she　winced。
　〃Their　names？〃
　
　Her　eyes　flew　wide　in　surprise。　〃The　bald…headed　fat　man　is　Hans　Von　Hummel。　The　distinguished…looking　one　is　F。　James　Kelly。〃
　〃You　could　be　mistaken。〃
　〃Maybe　。　。　。　no；　I'm　positive。　I　saw　Kelly　once　at　the　President's　Inaugural　Ball。〃
　〃Look　around　the　room！　Recognize　anyone　else？〃
　
　Tidi　quickly　did　as　she　was　told；　scanning　the　main　salon　for　a　familiar　face。　Her　gaze　stopped　not　once；　but　three　times。　〃The　old　fellow　with　the　funny…looking　glasses　sitting　on　the　settee。　That's　Sir　Eric　Marks。　And　the　attractive　brunette　next　to　him　is　Dorothy　Howard；　the　British　actress…〃
　〃Never　mind　her。　Concentrate　on　the　men。〃
　〃The　only　other　who　looks　vaguely　familiar　is　the　one　who　just　came　in；　talking　to　Kirsti　Fyrie。　I'm　pretty　sure　he's　Jack　Boyle；　the　Australian　coal　tycoon。〃
　〃How　e　you're　such　an　authority　on　millionaires？〃
　
　Tidi　gave　a　cute　shrug。　〃A　favorite　pastime　for　a　lot　of　unmarried　girls。　You　never　know　when　you　might　meet　one；　so　you　prepare　for　the　occasion　even　if　it　only　es　off　in　your　imagination。〃
　〃For　once　your　daydreams　paid　off。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃Neither　do　I　except　this　is　beginning　to　look　like　a　meeting　of　the　clan。〃
　
　Pitt　pulled　Tidi　out　on　the　terrace　and　slowly　walked　her　to　a　corner　away　from　the　mainstream　of　the　crowd。　He　watched　the　small　groups　of　guests　mill